Shock-loader.



PATBNTED JAN. 15, 1907.w

P. MART. SHOCK LOADER. AIPLIUATIQN FILED NIA13..8.19( )6.`

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PATBNTED JAN. 1 5, 1907.

F. MART.

SHOCK LOADER.

APPLIoAT-ION FILED 1111111.11. 190e.

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rrNiTnn sTATEs PATENT orrion.

VFRANK MART, OF WAKONDA, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SHOCK-LOADER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Application filed March 8, 1906. Serial No, 304,907.

' clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in shock-loaders designed forgathering shocks from the ground and conveying them to a wagon or otherreceptacle at the rear of the machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this characterwhich will be of simple and practical construction and which willefl'ect a great saving in time and labor.

llfith the above and other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts, as will b e hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of myimprovedshock-loader. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing in fulland dotted lines the two positions of the lifting-fork. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by theline 3 3 in Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sectional views takenon the planes indicated by the lines 4 4 and 5 5 in` F ig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by numeral, l denotes the frame or body of themachine, which, as shown, consists of longitudinal side beams or sills2, connected by central and rear crossed beams 3 4 and having projectingfrom their tops the uprights 5, which are connected together by a topcross-beam 6 and to the side beams 2 by diagonal braces 7. The frame orbody 1 is supported upon front caster-wheels 8 9 and the reardrive-wheels 10 11, which latter rotate freely upon the outer ends of arear shaftor axle provided at the rear ends of the side` lbeams 2. Thecaster-wheels 8 9 have theirvertical spindles 13 14 mounted to rotatefreely in vertical bearings provided in the forward. projecting ends ofthe side beams 2, and upon the upwardlyprojecting wheel 8 at the end ofthe spindle 13 is provided a crank-arm 15, which is connected by a linkor rod 19 to an operatinglever 20. The lever 20 is pivotally mounted at21 upon the adjacent side beam 2, so that its upper end is in convenientreach of the operator who sits upon a seat 22, supported, as shown at23, from said side beams. It will be seen that by shifting the lever 20the wheel 8 may be turn ed angularly for the purpose of steering themachine. The lever 2O carries a fixed pawl which normally engages a rack24, provided upon the side beam 2, and is thus held in an adjustedposition. The machine is drawn forwardly through the held from which theshocks are gathered by draftanimals hitched to whiifletrees 26,connected to laterally-projecting brackets or beams 27, provided uponthe outer sides of the side beams 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. l

Mounted in the front of the frame or body 1 is a vertically-swingingfork 30, which lifts the shocks from the ground and throws themrearwardly upon an endless conveyer or elevator 31, which is mounted inthe central and rear part of the body and is adapted to discharge theshocks into a wagon or other suitable receptacle 32, mounted upon orconnected to the rear ofthe machine. As shown, the shocks are dischargedfrom the conveyer 31 into a wagon 32, which is connected by a chain orother flexible connection 33 to the center of the rear cross-beam 4,which has its tongue 34 engaged with a guide 35, provided in the rearportion of the frame. As shown, this guide consists of a notched orrecessed block supported upon diagonal brace-rods 36.

The lifting-fork 30 comprises a verticallyswinging frame consisting oftwo side bars or arms 38, having their forward ends tapered, as shown,and their rear ends connected by a cross-bar 39 and strengthened bydiagonal members 40. Upon the cross-bar 39 is provided the shaft orpivot 41 of the fork, which shaft has its projecting ends mounted insuitable bearings 42, provided upon the under side beams 2, adjacent tothe central crossbar 3 of theframe. Between the side bars or arms 38 ofthe fork-frame 30 is pivotally mounted the fork proper, 43, whichconsists of a transverse'bar 44, from which. project spaced teeth-tines45. The bar 44 is adjustably pivoted between the arms 38 by passing itscentrally-extending pivot-shaft 46 through alining openings 47, formedin said arms, as shown. The tines 45 of the fork normally rest upon a`cross-rod or brace 48, between the arms 38, and their upward IOC IIO

means of a cord or other flexible connection 49, provided between therod 48 and one of the tines 45. This stop-cord 49 prevents the tinesfrom swinging over the center of its pivot, so that they will drop bygravity when the fork-frame 3() is in its lowered position. (Shown infull lines in Fig. 2.)

A coil-spring 50 has one end secured to the beam 3 of the frame 1 andits other end connected to the cross-bar 39 and the fork-frame l37 at apoint in advance of its pivot-shaft 41. When the fork-frame is raised,it swings rear wardly past a vestical position until it assumes aslightly rearwardly inclined position, and as soon as the load isdischarged from the fork onto the conveyer the spring 50 acts to startthe fork-frame forwardly and swings it over the dead-center, so that thefork-frame will be lowered during the rotation of the crank-shafthereinafter described.

The downward movement of the forkframe is limited by and it is elevatedby an operating mechanism comprising a transversely-extendin'gcrankshaft 51, mounted in bearings 52 upon-the top of the side beams 2,in rear of the uprights 5. This shaft 51 is formed adjacent to its endsand within the frame 1 with similarly-extending cranks 53, which areconnected by flexible connections 54 to the fork-frame 30, so that thelatter Will be raised and lowered as said shaft is rotated. Each of theconnections 30 preferably consists of cord, chain, cable, or the like55, to the ends of which are connected links 56 57. The links 57 at therear are connected to the cranks 53, and the links 56 at the front areengaged with eyes 58, which are adjustably mounted in rows of openings59, formed in the upper faces of the arms 38 of the fork-frame. Theflexible portions 0f the connections 54 extend over grooved guide wheelsor pulleys 60, journaled in bracke ets upon the inner faces of theuprights 5, adjacent to their upper ends.

The crank-shaft 51 is preferably driven from the rear drive andsupporting wheel 10, and its operation is controlled by a lever 61,mounted upon the side beam 2 within convenient reach of the foot of theoperator upon the seat 22. This operating mechanism comprises asprocket-wheel 62, secured to the wheel 11 and connected by asprocket-chain 63 to a sprocket-wheel 64, which is loosely mounted uponthe adjacent outer end of the shaft 52 and is adapted to be connected torotate therewith by a pawland-ratchet device. This device comprises aratchet-wheel 65, secured upon the inner face of the sprocket 64 andadjacent to a plate or disk 66, which is keyed or otherwise secured tothe shaft 51. Upon the disk 66 is pivoted, as at 67, a pawl or dog 68,which is actuated by a coiled spring 69, provided between said disk andsaid dog, The dog 68 is supported and held out of engagement with theteeth of the ratchet by the upwardlyextending end 70 of the leverl 61.The latter is pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 71,v

upon the side beam 2 and has its forwardlyprojecting end formed with afoot-piece 72. The latter swings vertically in a guide 73 upon the sidebeam 2 and is forced upwardly by a coiled spring 74, so that the end 70of the lever 61 projects normally in the path of the outer end of thedog 68. As shown, the spring 74 is in the form of a loop or bail, whichhas one of its ends secured to the guide 73 and its other end projectingthrough the same and engaged with the foot-piece of the trip-lever 61.

It will be seen that as the machine is drawn forwardly thesprocket-wheel 64 and its attached ratchet 65 will be rotated; but

the motion will not be imparted to the shaft 52, because of theengagement of the dog 68 with the end 70 ofthe trip-lever 61 but when ithe tines 45 of the fork engage the shock and the operator depresses thefoot-piece of the lever 61 the end 7() of the latter will release thedog 68, so that its spring 69 will swing it into engagement with theteeth of the ratchet 65, and thereby lock the latter to the shaft 51, sothat said shaft will be rotated. As soon as the dog 68 has been releasedthe operator removes his foot from the lever 61, so that the end 70 ofthe latter springs back into the path of the dog and engages it after itmakes one revolution. The shaft 51 is thus permitted to rotate once, andin rotating its cranks draw upon the flexible connections 54 and swingthe fork 30 to the dottedline position (shown in Fig. 2) to elevate theshock engaged by the tines 45 over upon the conveyer or elevator 31.

The conveyer 31 may be of any desired form and construction and ismounted in a vertically-adjustable frame or support 75, which extendsupwardly and rearwardly and consists of a bottom and two sides and alower end. The frame 75 has its lower front end pivotally mounted on atransverse shaft 76, which has its bearings in the side beams 2 of theframe 1. A transverse brace-rod 175 connects said beams 2, and blocks orcastings 77, which are secured to the sides of the conveyer-frame 7 5,are provided in their depending ends 176 with slots 177, through whichthe brace-rod 175 extends, said slots affording clearance for the saidbrace-rod and permitting the said arms to move angularly with theconveyer-frame when the rear end of the latter is raised and lowered.The upper and rear end of the frame 75 maybe swung or adjustedvertically to raise and lower the discharge end of the conveyer byrotating a crank 79 upon a transverse shaft l8O, which is mounted in theupper portions of the uprights 5 beneath the top beam 6. The shaft 80serves as a windlass and has connected to it the ends of a cord, cable,or

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other fiexible connection 81, which passes through openings in theprojecting ends of a cross-bar S2, which is provided upon the bottom ofthe frame 75, as shown. By rotating the shaft S0 the cord or cable 8lmay be wound or unwound to adjust the conveyer-frame 75, as desired. Inorder to hold the conveyor-frame in an adjusted position, a ratchet S3is secured upon one of the ends of the shaft 8O andis engaged by aspring-actuated pawl 84, provided upon one of the uprights 5, as shown.

The conveyer, as shown, consists of sprocket chains or belts '85, passedover sprocket wheels cr rollers 86 87, provided, respectively, upon theshaft 76, and a shaft 88, mounted in the upper or outer end of the frame75. These chains or belts are connected by transverse slats, as shown,so that the shocks deposited upon the bottom of the frame 5, between itssides, will be elevated and discharged out of its open and rear end.

The conveyer is driven by providing upon one of the outer ends of theshaft 76 a gear S9, which meshes with a gear 90 upon a stubshaft 91,provided upon one of the side beams 2. Connected to the gear 90 is asprocketwheel 92, which is connected by a sprocketchain 93 to asprocket-wheel 94, attached to a rear drive-wheel l l. It will be seenthat as the machine is drawn forwardly the gear just described willrotate the shaft 76, and hence the elevator or conveyer 3l.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The machine is drawnforwardly through a field containing shocks of hay, corn, wheat, or anyother grain or vegetable growth, and the operator upon the seat 22steers the same by means of the lever 20, so that the lifting-fork 3()will engage the bottom of the shocks. As soon as the fork engages theshock the foot-piece of the lever 61 is depressed to release the dog 68,so that the crank-shaft 51 will be once rotated and the fork will behence swung upwardly to its dotted-line position (shown in Fig. 2) tothrow the shock rearwardly upon the lower portion of the endlessconveyer 31, which latter conducts it upwardly and rearwardly anddischarges it into the wagon 32 or any other suitable receptacle. terthe fork has thrown a shock upon the conveyer it drops to its normal orlowered position by gravity, since the crank-shaft 5l will make but onerevolution, as previously explained.

It will be understood that when the machine is in operation thecrank-shaft 51 rotates in only one direction and that said crank-shaftduring a portion of its rotation serves to raise the fork-frame andduring the other portion of its elevation serves to lower the fork-frameto the ground to maintain control of the fork-frame while it is beinglowered, so that the fork-frame is prevented from dropping violently tothe ground and stress and wear, which would be incident to such droppingof the fork-frame, are obviated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In ashock-loading machine, the combination of a body or frame, ashock-lifting fork disposed longitudinally with respect to the body orframe, projecting forwardly therefrom and having its rear end pivotallyconnected thereto, a crank-shaft, means to rotate said crank-shaft inone direction, connections between a crank of said shaft and said forkto cause said crank-shaft at each rotation thereof to raise and lowersaid fork, and a lconveyer disposed longitudinally with reference to thebody or frame and having its front end in rear of the fork,substantially as described.

2. In a shock-loading machine, the combination of a body or frame, ashock-lifting fork disposed longitudinally with reference thereto,projecting forwardly therefrom and having its rear ,end pivotallyconnected 'thereto a crank-shaft -means to rotate said crank-shaft inone direction,r connections between a crank of said shaft and said forkto cause said crank-shaft at each rotation thereof to raise and lowersaid fork, a conveyer disposed longitudinally with reference to the bodyor frame, having its front end disposed in rear of the fork andpivotally connected to the body or frame, and means to raise and lowerthe rear end of said conveyer, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a body orframe, a conveyer thereon, a shock-lifting fork pivotally mounted at itsinner end to swing upwardly and rearwardly, a crank-shaft, means torotate said crank-shaft in one direction and a connection between thecrank of said shaft and said fork.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a body orframe, a conveyer thereon, a shock-lifting fork pivotally mounted at itsinner end to swing upwardly and rearwardly, a crank-shaft, aconnectionbetween the crank of said shaft and said fork, means for rotating saidcrank-shaft in one direction, and means for throwing said rotating meansinto and out of operation.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a body orframe, a conveyer thereon, a shock-lifting fork pivotally mounted at itsinner end to swing upwardly and rearwardly, an operating means for saidfork comprising a crank-shaft, a drivingwheel upon said shaft, apawl-and-ratchet device between said shaft and said drivingwheel, and alever for controlling said pawland-ratchet device.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a wheelsupported LOO TIO

frame, a swinging` fork, a crank-shaft, connecting elements between thecrank and the fork for raising and lowering said fork, a drive-wheelloosely mounted upon said shaft, driving connections between said Wheeland one of the supporting-wheels of said frame, a ratchet-wheel attachedto said drive-wheel, a plate or disk secured upon said shaft, aspring-actuated dog pivoted upon said plate and adapted to engage saidratchet-wheel, and a spring-actuated trip-lever to coact with said dog,substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frameor body, a conveyer thereon, an upwardly and rearwardly swinging forkpivotally mounted in the front portion of saidgframe, a doublecrankshaft, means to rotate said crank-shaft in one direction, guidesupon said frame, and flexible connections engaged with said guides andsecured to the cranks of said shafts and to said fork.

8. In a machine of the character described, .the combination of a frameor body, a conveyer thereon, an upwardly and rearwardly swinging forkpivotally mounted in the front portion of said frame, a double crank`shaft, means to rotate said crank-shaft in one direction, guides uponsaid frame, ilexible connections engaged. with said guides and securedto the cranks of said shafts and to said fork, means for rotating saidcrankshaft to elevate said fork, and a spring for starting said fork toits lowered position.

9. In a shock-loader, the combination of a main frame, apivotally-inounted fork, a

crank-shaft, means to rotate said crankshaft, and connections between acrank of said shaft and said fork to cause the latter to be raised andlowered by the crank-shaft while the latter is making one revolution inone direction.

10` In "a shock-loader, the combination of a main frame, apivotally-niounted fork, a crank-shaft, means to rotate said crankshaft,connections between a crank of said shaft and said fork to cause thelatter to be raised and lowered by the crank-shaft while the latter ismaking one revolution in one direction, means to rotate said crankshaftand means to prevent the rotation thereof without discontinuing theaction of the rotating means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

FRANK MART. Witnesses:

M. J. CHANEY, SAM. JAcoBsoN.

